What are high grade abnormalities?

High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) is a squamous cell abnormality associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). It encompasses the previously used terms of CIN2, CIN3, moderate and severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ.

What does high-grade cells mean?

High-grade SIL – means there are a large number of precancerous cells, and, like low-grade SIL, these precancerous changes involve only cells on the surface of the cervix. The cells often do not become cancerous for many months, perhaps years.

Can high-grade HPV go away?

High-risk HPV types Infection with HPV is very common. In most people, the body is able to clear the infection on its own. But sometimes, the infection doesn’t go away. Chronic, or long-lasting infection, especially when it’s caused by certain high-risk HPV types, can cause cancer over time.

What does high-grade changes in cervix mean?

High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL) means that there are moderately or severely abnormal cervical cells that could become cancer in the future if not treated. Your health care provider will likely ask you to come back for a colposcopy.

What is high-grade HPV?

High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions look somewhat to very abnormal when looked at under a microscope. They are usually caused by chronic infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and are found when a Pap test or biopsy is done.

Can ASCUS be wrong?

Pap smear abnormalities are very common. The most common abnormality is termed ASCUS, which stands for Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance. Over 90% of these are actually false positives, and there is no abnormality.

What percentage of women with ASC-US have a high grade SIL?

Between 5% and 17% of women with ASC-US will have a high grade SIL present (CIN 2 or CIN 3) Between 24% and 94% of women with ASC-H will have a high grade SIL

When does the diagnosis of ASC-US begin to gain clinical significance?

The diagnosis of ASC-US begins to gain clinical significance when it is associated with a positive hrHPV diagnosis. Both reflex HPV DNA testing and co-testing have reported a high incidence of hrHPV in ASC-US specimens.

How common are high grade lesions of the cervix in ASC-US?

Among the women with ASC are a few with high-grade lesions of the cervix: Between 5% and 17% of women with ASC-US will have a high grade SIL present (CIN 2 or CIN 3)

What are the management options for patients with ascus?

 Previously (before the recent guidelines update), patients aged 25 years and older with ASCUS have two management options, one option is to do HPV testing (preferred), and if the test is positive, colposcopy is indicated, while patients with negative HPV test will have repeat cytology in three years.